TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Swans manager who was a stalwart of football.

Glyn Davies, who represented the club as a player before becoming its manager in 1965, has passed away after an illness, aged 80.

Davies played for Swansea Schoolboys and Wales at that level before beginning a professional career with Derby County.

He went on to manage Swansea during the 1965-66 season.

Former Evening Post football writer John Burgum said: "His first season was a bit cavalier as they scored 81 goals but conceded 96. "He did have some success as they won the Welsh Cup and were back in Europe."

Swans legend Mel Nurse said: "We both came from the same area of Swansea, Cwmbwrla, and went to the same school.

"He was captain of Derby for donkeys' years and once, when I was captain of Swansea, we tossed the coin up in the centre together. He was not a bad player — you needed to have something about you to be captain. He was a nice lad and a gentleman, one of the stalwarts of football."